The subtleties of political payback

The Stranger’s Eli Sanders slogs today about Gov. Gregoire’s last minute endorsement of Barack Obama, just before the WA caucuses…

It was a coup for Obama and smart politics for Gregoire. […] It also established an IOU with the Obama campaign, one they’re paying back—or beginning to pay back—this week. It may be too cynical to cast this as a purely financial transaction, but if you’re wondering how much Gregoire’s endorsement was worth to the Obama campaign the answer, so far, seems to be about $320,000.

Political payback? Huh. Okay, maybe. I suppose that’s how this game is played.

But if a funder with a nominee’s wife is payback for a crucial endorsement from a sitting governor, it makes you wonder what the hell Dave Reichert did to earn payback funders from Tom Delay, George Bush, Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, George Bush, Laura Bush, John Boehner, Newt Gingrich and Rudy Giuliani?

But then, Reichert is a conscience driven independent, so I guess it’s inappropriate to ask that question.

Funny how the big Republicans don’t dare hold a public meeting in Western Washington. They slip into Boeing Field, go directly to some private fundraiser in a private home in Medina, have police block off roads so there’s no chance they might be inconvenienced by having to observe a protest sign, and then scoot right back to Boeing Field and then out of town.

Get real. Obama is one of the most calculating politicians we’ve seen in years. Since Seattle skews SO far Left that WA is likely going to the Dems, he’s doing the least amount necessary to look like he’s doing something. You even mention that it was a last-minute endorsement. I’m sure there is an unofficial “price list” for quid pro quos and timing is a factor.

Gov. Gregoire just lost the endorsement of the Washington Restaurant Association. The Board unanimously endorsed Rossi. Ouch.

With a workforce of 186,000 employees, the restaurant industry is the largest private employer in the state. The 12,000 Washington restaurants annually contribute $9.4 billion to the state economy, generate $555 million in state taxes, and pay employees more than $2.6 billion each year.

In the past, they have been quite non-partisan as opposed to other trade associations. They looked closely at what Gregoire promised and what she actually did. Explains things in their monthly newsletter. I’ll still likely vote for her….but very, very reluctantly if I do.

I’m assuming that the Washington Restaurant Association consists of owners of restaurant. The workers in restaurants outnumber the owners considerably. Wonder if Dino told them that as Governor, he would work to get tips included as part of worker’s minimum wage, the same way Mike McGavick did? That might go over pretty well with the restaurant owners, but you saw how well that works with the workers.

Good to see that Goldy is still carrying Darcy Burner’s water for her. She probably could have used that a few weeks ago when her house was up in flames…

Attacks on Reichert aren’t going to convince people why Darcy (disco inferno)Burner is a better choice for them in November, so perhaps Goldy should start making a case for his candidate rather than using juvenile “hit posts” every other thread on this site to bring down Congressman Reichert. Get used to hearing the name as it will be around for the foreseeable future, Goldy’s temper tantrums be damned.

…and @ 1. It wasn’t Reichert’s call. It was the King County Prosecutor’s office…but I’m assuming you’re too ignorant to even grasp that reality.

The Tartans correspondents observed one event coordinator say to another, ‘Get me more white people, we need more white people.’ To an Asian girl sitting in the back row, one coordinator said, ‘Were moving you, sorry. Its going to look so pretty, though.

Doesn’t matter. The February rally was “open to the public” and was on the heels of McCain mathematically wrapping up the nomination process (according to the press at the time).

The Seattle CityClub wasn’t open to the public, but rather its membership which includes some prominent liberals and Democrats. Can’t remember if seats/tables could have been purchased though for the usual convention rubber chicken feed rates.

So the whole Big-Name-Republicans-Don’t-Ever-Come-To-Seattle statement has been scotched which was my initial point.

Please Donate

I appreciate feeling appreciated. Also, money.

Currency:

Amount:

Can’t Bring Yourself to Type the Word “Ass”?

Eager to share our brilliant political commentary and blunt media criticism, but too genteel to link to horsesass.org? Well, good news, ladies: we also answer to HASeattle.com, because, you know, whatever. You're welcome!

Search HA

Follow Goldy

HA Commenting Policy

It may be hard to believe from the vile nature of the threads, but yes, we have a commenting policy. Comments containing libel, copyright violations, spam, blatant sock puppetry, and deliberate off-topic trolling are all strictly prohibited, and may be deleted on an entirely arbitrary, sporadic, and selective basis. And repeat offenders may be banned! This is my blog. Life isn’t fair.